Prep baseball: Maple Mountain earns win over Kearns in Class 4A opening round

Spanish Fork • Maple Mountain's baseball team has come a long way in its seven years of existence.

From a four-win season during its inaugural year to finishing second in Class 4A last year, the strides are evident.

The Golden Eagles took another step forward Tuesday by beating Kearns 10-6 in the opening round of the 4A state tournament.

"Since beginning of region we've just been winning and winning and winning," junior Wes Childs said. "So I think we're on a hot streak. We just keep battling and getting through all these games and finishing them."

Maple Mountain earned a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-out, two-RBI single from sophomore Dawson Hall. Kearns pulled even in the next inning, but triples from seniors Jaren Hall and Kade Poulsen in the bootom of the second rebuilt the Golden Eagles' lead to 4-2.

"Coaches told me during the tournament [that] you're really amped up, and I've definitely experienced that the past couple years," said Jaren Hall, who finished with two extra-base hits and three RBIs. "I just relied on my patience and getting up there, and seeing what's best for the team and staying confident in myself."

The home team and Region 8's No. 2 seed added three more runs leading up to the top of the fourth, when Kearns mounted a rally. The Cougars cut the deficit to 7-6 after four singles, a walk and two fielders choices before Maple Mountain ended the threat.

Childs took the mound in relief of junior Jeff Mack in the top of the fifth, and pitched three scoreless innings to notch the save.

"I'm just really happy when Wes has success," Golden Eagles coach Gary Miner said. "That he can go out amidst a little bit of adversity and circumstances that are beyond the game and go out there and be solid."

Miner added that the growth of his team was obvious in how composed Maple Mountain remained despite the comeback from Kearns.

"Nobody panicked," he said. "This our seventh year as a high school, so now we're trying to establish, 'Don't be surprised.' … Every year we've tried to say there are still parts that need to become cultural. There's good players, but culturally we need to be better and have expectations."

Jaren Hall's run-scoring double in the bottom of the fifth extended the Golden Eagles' lead to 8-6 prior to RBIs from Poulsen and senior Sam Moore.

"This is a huge win for us," Jaren Hall said. "Past two years we've lost the first game and had to come back from that, so just to get the first one out of the way and just get that confidence built up is huge for us." —

Schedule

4A baseball

First round, Tuesday

• Olympus 8, Springville 3

• Orem 6, East 2

• Woods Cross 13, Alta 3

• Maple Mountain 10, Kearns 6

• Corner Canyon 10, Bountiful 8

• Salem Hills 7, Skyline 4

• Spanish Fork 7, Murray 5

• Timpanogos 5, Bonneville 0

Second round, Wednesday (all games 4 p.m.)

• Olympus at Orem

• Maple Mountain at Woods Cross

• Corner Canyon at Salem Hills

• Spanish Fork at Timpanogos